50,00,000 face infection risk

Gouri Shah, TNNJan 3, 2005, 12.00AM IST

MUMBAI: Even as rescue and relief operations gathered pace in the tsunami-hit regions of southern Asia , the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued warnings of a secondary threat from diseases spread through contaminated bodies and water.

Local agencies are working round the clock to provide clean water in an effort to prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases like typhoid, hepatitis, diarrhoea and cholera. Experts believe that close to 5m survivors could contract such diseases due to scarcity of basic necessities like food, water and shelter.

"Beyond the immediate concerns of starvation and dehydration, the survivors of this calamity are also vulnerable to diseases which could range from respiratory and gastro-intestinal diseases to depression," said SM Sapatnekar, director, Haffkine Institute.

While financial aid is pouring in from a centrally monitored fund in India, agencies across the board are sending in medical teams, supplies and equipment to help the relief process.

Topping the list are pharmaceutical companies which are routing stocks of essential supplies such as antibiotics, antipyretics, deworming tablets, eye drops, vaccines and electral powder to contain any epidemic. "At a time like this, people living in the tsunami-hit areas are susceptible to infections through contamination. We have been sending medicines such as eye drops, antibiotics, water-purification tablets, syringes, gloves and bandages to the affected areas through our plants in Chennai and Sri Lanka. These would go a long way in preventing the spread of infectious diseases," said Swati Piramal, director, Nicholas Piramal.

CII is also circulating a list of medical supplies among its members to facilitate relief. The Chennai-based Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals (OCP) is sending in dietary supplements as part of its supplies for the victims.

"We have been sending stocks of dietary supplements along with basic medicines to combat cholera, diarrhoea and secondary infections," said deputy managing director CB Rao.

These measures notwithstanding, bodies like the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) in Port Blair are warning people that only preventive measures can avoid communicable diseases.

When an area is flooded or there is an intrusion of sea water, the soil tends to become more alkaline, making it an excellent breeding ground for cholera and leptospirosis.

"A simple ingredient like vinegar is enough to kill cholera germs. People in these areas should add some vinegar — which is acidic — to their drinking water as a precaution against the disease," said Mr Sapatnekar, adding that it was not always possible to carry out sophisticated laboratory tests and administer medicines in such situations.

"Prevention and containment of an epidemic should be an important component of disaster management," he said.